July 14, 2023, New Delhi: Anil Agarwal Foundation’s (AAF) Nand Ghar initiative has been featured prominently in a compendium of CSR initiatives of India Inc launched by the Confederation of Indian Industry and National Commission for Women.
Nand Ghar, an innovative social impact project by Anil Agarwal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Vedanta Limited, is a model project working to strengthen the Anganwadi ecosystem of India. It has reimagined traditional Anganwadis, government infrastructure addressing the education, nutrition, and health needs of children and lactating women, into “Nand Ghars” – a Home for a Young One. By leveraging innovative solutions encompassing health, nutrition, education, and women’s empowerment through skilling, it aims to uplift the lives of women and children across rural India. Since its inception, Nand Ghar has empowered 1.2 lakh women, providing them with income opportunities of up to INR 12,000 per month and helping them establish businesses in sectors ranging from textiles to data entry to dairy farming.
Titled Boosting Livelihood Opportunities for Women – the compendium compiles the journey of nineteen corporations that have successfully rolled out programs to empower rural women, including landless farmers, women with disabilities, and those residing in remote regions. The compendium underscores the pivotal role played by women in driving both economic and social progress, recognizing their potential as a catalyst for accelerated economic growth in ‘New India.’ The compendium serves as a testament to the exemplary CSR efforts of Anil Agarwal Foundation in empowering women in rural and semi-urban areas by creating sustainable livelihoods for them.
Anil Agarwal Foundation, in alignment with the vision of an empowered nation, has taken the lead in implementing women-focused sustainable livelihood programs to address skilling and employability opportunities for women. Recently, its flagship project Nand Ghar collaborated with Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which RSLDC will provide support for training, certification, and placement support to the beneficiaries of Nand Ghar, which will serve as hubs for skill development and entrepreneurship training. Through this, AAF aims to empower women by providing them with the necessary skills and resources to enhance their livelihood opportunities, making them financially independent.
AAF, with the backing of Vedanta, has already constructed and upgraded over 5,500 Anganwadi Centres into Nand Ghars across 14 states in India. Earlier, AAF had signed an MoU with the Government of Rajasthan to upgrade 25,000 Anganwadi Centres into Nand Ghars in the state.
The Anil Agarwal Foundation is the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s community and social initiatives. The focus areas of the Foundation are Healthcare, Women and Child development, Animal Welfare Projects, and Sports Initiatives. Anil Agarwal Foundation aims to empower communities, transform lives, and facilitate nation building through sustainable and inclusive growth.
